When Gene Michael was installed as Yankees general manager in late August 1990 – George Steinbrenner’s last official move before serving a 2 1/2-year suspension – he disliked much of what would be the franchise’s worst team in 77 years.
He was particularly appalled, however, by two facets of the offense. Well before Moneyball, he was obsessed with “how easy we make it for pitchers” due to the team’s lack of plate discipline and on-base skills (the Yankees’ on-base percentage was .300, 11 points worse than any other club).
Michael then went to his office window at Yankee Stadium II, pointed to the short right-field porch and said, “We are too damn right-handed.